Saudi mom-of-2 aiming high as Kingdom’s 1st female skier

Riyadh: A Saudi mom-of-two has been getting a piste of the action as the first woman to represent the Kingdom in skiing.

Sharifa Al-Sudairi hit the headlines after successfully competing in the recent Ski Dubai event.

The Jeddah-born 35-year-old found herself up against 25 top skiers from around the world in the competition but still managed to secure second, fourth, and fifth places in different categories.

She is among a growing band of Saudi sporting talents making a name for themselves as part of the Kingdom’s push to promote sport for all, host major international events, and compete on the global stage.

Brought up in the Red Sea port city, Al-Sudairi went to a boarding school in Switzerland and attended universities in London where she gained a bachelor’s degree in fine art and a master’s degree in art and business.

Supported by her family in her dream to become a top skier, she told Arab News that her father had always encouraged her to be sporty and independent.

She said: “I have always enjoyed being active and have taken part in many different sports while growing up including tennis, basketball, surfing and, of course, skiing.”

Al-Sudairi learned to ski at a young age while on family holidays in Switzerland, and she now considers her participation in the sport more as a passion than a career.

“Skiing for me encompasses all of the things that make me happy; you get to be active and healthy, while in the majesty of nature.

“Skiing on beautiful white slopes in incredible surroundings reminds me how dramatic and wonderful Earth is.

“But what started as a hobby and favorite pastime, evolved into me taking this on professionally,” she added.

She was able to further develop her skills through training